By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    improving patient experience
    6 Ways to Improve Patient Satisfaction Within Hospitals
    December 1, 2021
    degree for healthcare job
    What Are The Health Benefits Of Having A Degree?
    March 9, 2022
    custom software development is changing healthcare
    Digital Customer Journey Mapping and its Importance for Healthcare
    July 21, 2022
    Latest News
    Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
    May 16, 2025
    Learn how to Renew your Medical Card in West Virginia
    May 16, 2025
    Choosing the Right Supplement Manufacturer for Your Brand
    May 1, 2025
    Engineering Temporary Hospitals for Extreme Weather
    April 24, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    Can Thinking Younger Make You Live Longer?
    April 20, 2011
    Image
    Obesity’s Outlook Unchanged
    June 13, 2011
    When It’s An Emergency Elderly Not Treated As Well in Hospitals
    July 16, 2011
    Latest News
    Building Smarter Care Teams: Aligning Roles, Structure, and Clinical Expertise
    May 18, 2025
    The Critical Role of Healthcare in Personal Injury Recovery: A Comprehensive Guide for Victims
    May 14, 2025
    The Backbone of Successful Trials: Clinical Data Management
    April 28, 2025
    Advancing Your Healthcare Career through Education and Specialization
    April 16, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: More Confirmation Stents Overused
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Specialties > Cardiology > More Confirmation Stents Overused
CardiologyMedical Devices

More Confirmation Stents Overused

gooznews
Last updated: July 6, 2011 11:56 am
gooznews
Share
3 Min Read
SHARE

Another day, another study showing that invasive cardiologists overuse angioplasty and insert unneeded stents in patients without acute symptoms of coronary artery disease. The latest study, which appeared in today’s Journal of the American Medical Association, deemed 15 percent of the 600,000 angioplasties done every year are either inappropriate or their necessity is uncertain.

Another day, another study showing that invasive cardiologists overuse angioplasty and insert unneeded stents in patients without acute symptoms of coronary artery disease. The latest study, which appeared in today’s Journal of the American Medical Association, deemed 15 percent of the 600,000 angioplasties done every year are either inappropriate or their necessity is uncertain.

Since the COURAGE trial results were released in 2007, cardiologists have known that drug intervention (primarily statins) works just as well or better than angioplasty in patients with stable coronary artery disease (cost: $1,000 a year or less if generics are used compared to $20,000 for the stent operation). A study that came out two months ago showed there had been no change in cariology practice in the wake of the COURAGE trial. This latest study confirms that invasive cardiology is largely an evidence-free zone where the self-interest of the surgeons and the hospitals trumps the needs of patients, who have no clue as to what’s going on. “Thank God the doctor did that operation. I could have died tomorrow.”

Dr. Mark Midei, the Maryland cardiologist once feted by Medtronic with a pig roast for inserting 30 stents in a single day, remains the poster child for invasive cardiology overutilization. His story was the subect of a Congressional investigation, and is repeated in today’s Wall Street Journal (subscription required). 

More Read

Radiofrequency Ablation Devices
A Medical Device Recall of an EHR-like Product
Where is the Potential for Improving Wound Closure and Management?
FDA’s Sham Regulations Impede Medical Innovation
Telehealth, Remote Monitoring and Mobile Health

What’s the solution? I presume the American Heart Association or American College of Cardiology guidelines recommend medical therapy before angioplasty in patients with stable coronary artery disease (no one questions the use of angioplasty in the 70 percent of patients who present at their physicians or at the emergency room with acute symptoms — anywhere from a heart attack to extremely labored breathing — from coronary blockages). Insurers, including Medicare, could create post-operative review boards to review medical charts and apply these guidelines before making payments. Obviously some cases will be borderline. For those cases, insurers could create an appeals process. In clearcut cases of overutilization, no one gets paid by insurance. Let them try to collect from the patients. When word of that gets out, you’ll see a lot more questions being asked in the emergency room before walk-ins agree to get whisked off to the cath lab.

Call it rationing if you’d like. I prefer to call it the application of scientific medicine to payment policy. Anybody got a better idea?

TAGGED:cardiac stentscardiologymedical technology
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

Clinical Expertise
Building Smarter Care Teams: Aligning Roles, Structure, and Clinical Expertise
Health care
May 18, 2025
Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
Health
May 15, 2025
Learn how to Renew your Medical Card in West Virginia
Learn how to Renew your Medical Card in West Virginia
Health
May 15, 2025
Dr. Klaus Rentrop Shares Acute Myocardial Infarction heart treatment
Dr. Klaus Rentrop Shares Acute Myocardial Infarction
Cardiology
May 13, 2025

You Might also Like

google glass for wound care
Medical DevicesMedical InnovationsNewsTechnology

Google Glass Used to Speed Patient Healing in Wound Centers

March 7, 2014

Being Almost Human: Robotic Patient Simulators Bridging the Gap in Healthcare Education

August 19, 2015

Keeping Medical Device Designs Relevant in a Big Data World

February 20, 2014

Google Glass in Medicine: Why There Is Promise

August 21, 2013
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?